THE LATE ELECTION. STATE OF THE POLL DECLARED.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume I, Issue 10, 28 November 1857, Page 3

THE LATE ELECTION. STATE OF THE POLL DECLARED.

On Tuesday, at 12 o'clock, the Returning Officer announced the state of the poll to be as follows : — Donald Gollan, 82

T. H. FitzGerald 81 Robert Pharazyn,. 42 Purvis Russell,.-. ., „ 41 And declare.l Donald (rwllm ivul Thomas Henry FhzGe aid to be duly elected to serve in the Provincial Couutril of Wellington for the District, T. H. FitzGerald Esq., in thanking the electors on behalf of Mr. Gollan a»d himself, whose absence he regretted, said that he regarded the result of this election as an indication of the prevalence of iho.'e opinions which werf first promulgated by the Settlers' Association, and which must eventuate in separation from Wellington, financial and otherwise. The present crisis was a grave one. The government so long supported by the people of Wellington had become at once defunct ; and another puty had virtually succeeded to power* That party had passed certain resolutions^ c übolying th ir policy, mid to these he (Mr. FitzGerald) would briefly advert. The first was, — "Economy in the administration of public affairs, by the abolition of unnecessary offices and the reduction of exces ive s laries.' All would admit the n - cessicy of this resolution. Much fault had been f>und with the government of Sir Geo. Grey by the present Provincial party, on the ground of extravagance ; and large promises made of economy ; but these promises had all been broken; and on this ground alone the present Provincial Government had no right to expect support. The next was, — "A limit to the number of members of Council holding public paid offices." In this every one would agree. The third was, — "Purity of election : all persons holding Government appointments to be restrained from canvassing, or otherwise unduly interfering in elections." This was a matter that required to be well looked after. A person employed by Government had no right to make use of the time and opportunity thus afforded him, for the purpose of aiding a faction, or keeping any political party in power. Even in this small place, canvassing had been done by those on whose part it would have more proper and more decent to have remained neutral. The fourth resolution was, — "The disposal of public lands on a system of deferred payments." This was the great subject of difference between the two parties. He did not think it a good plan. An industrious man in this colony could soon earn £20 or £40 for the purchase of a freehold ; and those who could not save this amount were not likely to do good with the land when they got it. He thought the system would do great injury, and that Dr. Featherston had displayed sound judgment in his efforts to prevent it. The fifth was, — "A re-con-sideration of the system of licensing the public lands as runs." But he considered that, when licenses had been granted, or their issue implied, no change in this matter could take place ; nor, indeed, should, so long as the runs were held on so uncertain a tenure. The sixth, — "That all transactions with regard to the disposal and occupation of the public lands to take place before an open land board," he thought would be found to be impracticable. The next was, — "That all public works should be performed by contract, and the tenders lo be opened in the presence of the competitors." This was one with which, he felt persuaded, every elector would agree. In this respect, again, the members of the Provincial Government had attached much blame to Sir George Grey's government, and yet, with opportunities that he did not enjoy, had, regardless of their fine promises, pursued the same system." In the eighth, which had reference to the establishment of local boards, provision had, in a great measure, been made by the present government. These resolutions, however, had been carried in Wellington- by an overwhelming majority, and the present government had . virtually ceased to exist. Twenty members had already been returned whose resolve was to turn Dr." Featherston out ; but he (Mr. FitzGerald) believed they would go very far before they got a better man. He did not believe in Welch at all. As an Ahuriri settler, he believed only in separation. He could not, as the Wellington people did, regard that city as the grand centre, towards which all traffic was to be directed, and in which the greater .part of the Provincial revenues were to be spent. [We have only been able to give a very condensed report of Mr. FitzGerald's speech, which was well received.] Robert Pharazyn Esq., then proposed a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer, and the meeting separated. We regret to learn that the election i« likely to be set aside upon an informality*